The Politics of Othering: Media, AI, and the Struggle for Shared Values
7 December, 2026
University of the Punjab
To commemorate International Human Rights Day, a one-day International Conference is being organised on “The Politics of Othering: Media, AI, and the Struggle for Shared Values” by the Human Rights Chair, University of the Punjab, in collaboration with the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), IAMCR’s Islam and Media Working Group, Media and Communication Academic Professionals (MCAP) & the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), University of the Punjab, Lahore.
The world today is witnessing a profound crisis of humanity. From Gaza and Iran to Kashmir, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and other forgotten humanitarian emergencies, ongoing conflicts expose deep fractures in our commitment to human dignity, justice, and universal human rights. At the heart of these crises lies the politics of othering—the construction of individuals and communities as different, threatening, or less deserving of empathy and protection. By dividing humanity into “us” and “them,” such narratives determine whose suffering is recognised, whose voices are heard, and whose rights are defended.
Media and communication play a critical role in shaping these narratives through representation, framing, visibility, and omission. In the digital age, artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems further complicate these dynamics by influencing whose stories are amplified and whose experiences remain marginalised. Yet, media and technology also hold the potential to challenge stereotypes, restore empathy, amplify silenced voices, and foster dialogue across differences.
This conference seeks to critically examine how the politics of othering operates across media, technology, politics, culture, and society, while exploring pathways towards recognition, inclusion, and shared humanity. It aims to identify how communication, AI, and emerging technologies can challenge dehumanisation, facilitate dialogue, transform conflicts, advance peacebuilding, and strengthen social cohesion.
The conference will feature two plenary sessions:
- Plenary 1: From Othering to Human Dignity: An Islamic Perspective on Media, AI, and Shared Humanity
- Plenary 2: From Migration to Marginalisation: Media, AI and the Politics of Othering
These will be complemented by parallel research paper presentation sessions and a digital photography showcase titled “Framing Humanity: Images of Othering and Belonging,” exploring visual representations of exclusion, identity, dignity, and belonging.
The conference invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers, technologists, and human rights advocates to reflect on two fundamental questions:
- How are narratives of “us” and “them” constructed, amplified, and contested across media, communication, politics, and digital technologies?
- How can communication, AI, and emerging technologies promote empathy, dialogue, conflict transformation, and a renewed commitment to shared humanity?
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission: 1 November 2026
- Acceptance Notification: 9 November 2026
- Registration Deadline: 14 November 2026
- Full Paper/Presentation Submission: 30 November 2026
- Conference Date: 7 December 2026
Abstract Submission: hrchair@pu.edu.pk | zahraafat@cu.edu.eg